During visits, SORT unit investigators found that the six were no longer living where they were supposed to, said spokeswomanMichelle Gavin. The visits stemmed back to June 4, with the most recent occurring on Aug. 1, Gavin said.

The department typically exhausts all its resources looking for missing offenders before notifying the public because most are easily found, she said.

“We don’t want to alert the public every time someone is missing a day or two,” Gavin said. “Then they stop paying attention.”

Gavin said public alerts also tend to send offenders deeper into hiding.

The department decided to request the community’s assistance after unsuccessfully reaching out to other agencies, speaking with family members, visiting workplaces and areas the men often visit, said Sgt. Mark Eichenlaub.

“We exhausted all our in-house leads,” Eichenlaub said. “Most of these guys had cut off their ties with their families.”

The offenders have been labeled absconders and are considered a danger to the community.

Their offenses include rape, statutory rape and child molestation.

All convicted sex offenders in Georgia are required by law to notify authorities at least 72 hours prior to any change of address. The sheriff’s department checks on the offenders to verify their address at least four times a year, Anderson said.

The last time the department had absconders was about 18 months ago, when four offenders could not be located. They were all eventually found, with one discovered living out of the state, Eichenlaub said.

The missing men face charges of probation violation and from one to 30 years behind bars.

“We just want to get a hold of them and charge them as we should charge them and let them go before the courts and get them convicted,” said Sheriff Al St Lawrence.

If anyone has information about the whereabouts of the wanted sex offenders, they can call SORT 24 hours a day at 912-656-5715, or they can use an online form on the SORT website at www.sort.chathamsheriff.org. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 234-2020.

ON THE WEB

To view video of the press conference about the six missing sex offenders, go to savannahnow.com/news.

Go to savannahnow.com to see slideshows of all the registered sex offenders living in Chatham County.